Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1887-04-21

This was the last OF the honored and re-
vered Right Reverend Alfred Lee, bishop OF |
Delaware and primate of this country.
The knell fIon the old bell-tower slowly |
tolled ms the solemn procession wend9d ita
serpentine way beneath the ancient porch
and around the edlfice towards the southern
corner of the ehureh-yard, where the place
OF eepulture was found. IT was q most I'M
pressive sight to see those men Wnose
names are known 80 well passing IVY py
two In bent and reverent attitue In farther
honor to him whom all Wilmington loved
and honored for so many years.
Thetaii commanding form or Blshop
Williams OF Connecticut, tn purple sRull
cap, rich black satin gown and capaelons
lawn sleeves, the dguihed, prelate-like
presence of Bishop Porter, Of New YORK,
every inch bishop, mortar board" grace
fully poised In hand, his easy metropolitan
air fnferrlng the large and varied experience
OF the most popular churchman upon the
continent, the pompous but none tne less
impressive Bishop Scarborough OF New
Jersey, the youthful looking Bishop rsser,
kin OF West Virginia, and the names OF
Bishops Walker Of Dakota and Boone OF
Shanghai affor1ing novel and acceptable
aha siss % -a,lthalial0na 10 tho oecasiVu u0f
unQrateful In the premises OF the msmory
Of the deceased bishops comprehensive
charge e--thls picture gave an influence OF
added historic impression which la the an
tique associations will not soon be forgotten
by those who had the good fortune to be
witnesses Of the event.
Just as the white surpllced proc sssion
rounded the west side of the church long
train Of Pullman cars rushed by III cllse
| proximity to the walls OF the burial ground
| the windows were thronged with eager and
wondering spectators OF the unusual sight.
| As the foremost OF the clergy reached the
grave they divided on either side making
way for the bishops, who'll turn deboucheo
| to the right and leit until Bishop Wiilmms
/ arrived VINO took hts place as ehios c"le-
| brant at The foot of the place OF heph1uce.
| Already all hats were of. Many OF III inosi
prominent OF our citizens, senntnis, I'n-
/ Rressmen, ex-governors, State, Frdei Al n :,
| municipal officials, had drawn nigh cnd
| Others who had been fortunate enoh.t to
gain access to the church-yard by the west
ern gate had crowded around uni I ne
clergy and bishops were hemmed 10 by an
amphitheatre OF heads.
In the midst OF solemn silence the
words "Man, that is born of woman, hath
but short time to live, &c.," from the
beautiful eommittal service of the church
were heard In clear liquid ,7nes from the
Rev. Lewis Gibson, and, as he closed with
the words, 30, holy and merciful Saviour
Thou most worthy Judge eternal, suffer us
not at our last hour, for any pains OF death
10 fall from Thee" Bishop Williams began
the prayer commencing "Forasmuch as Il
hath pleased Almighty God In HIS WIS.,
providence to take out OF this world th'
soul OF our deceased brother, we therefore
commit his body to the ground; earth Il
earth, ashes to ashes, dust to dust; looking
for the general resurrection In the last day
&C." AS the latter most impressive word
, fell from the bishop, earth was cast upol
, | the coffin.
The bishop then read the single vera
from Revelations xiv, Is, 81 heard voic'
from heaven saying unto me, write, from
heneeforth blessed are the dead who die II
! the Lord, even SO saith the spirit, for the
3 rest from their labors."
/ The bishop of West Virginia then recite
! the Lords prayer In which he was joinedi
: a subdued voice by the large conceurse
: This terminated the service. The bishop
= and clergy followed by the deceased pre-
b late's family then slowly passed up and b
d the grave taking last look at the caske
q A meeting of the bishops and clergy wa
q after the service for the burial Of Bisho
4 Lee. On motion, Bishop Williams Of Cor
: neetcut was called to the chair, and mad
few appropriate remarks. The Rev. Lew
7 W, Gibson of Dover, moved that con
I. mittee be appointed to draft suitable res
% lutions. The chair appointed Bishop VIII
q taker of Pennsylvania, Bishop Paret
q Maryland, Bishop Peterkin OF West VI
,e cinia, the Rev. T. Gardiner Littell. ID .
. and the Rev. Richard Newton, ID. d. II
. hishoD of Nav York moved that Blshc
Howe of Central Pennsylvania be requestt
e to furnish copy Of his very appropr1a
k remarks. Mt st. Andrews Church, for pub
v cation. The committee subsequently Pr
n pured the following resolutions:
Resolued, That In the death OF the Rig
i- Reverend Alfred Lee D. D., LII. ID. Bisht
of Delaware and Presiding Bishop, one Ii
81 been taken from earth for whose virtues a.
g. godly life we give humble thanks to
o. mighty God.
ir That the church has lost one In who
u, religious belief was beautifully eXemplth
y In gentleness, humility and Christian eou
ai tesy, ia the councils Of the church, In d
daily walk and In the home.
That, in his quiet charities, his alacftty
in help and elevate all sorts and conditio
Q | of men, his wisdom, hte honest and ten
oious adherence to deliberately matur
convictions, and his unfaltering courage
he modestly advocating them, he deserved
%, won the reverence Of men OF every nan
nd and has indeed left the world tho better
his having lived.
es THAT we shall long remember him as o
I'D who has died as he lived, in the communi
~ of the Catholic church, in the confidence
nc a certain faith, In the comfort OF reisn
able, religious and holy hope in favor "
N, his God, and In perfect charity with
$50 world.
yy- widowed diocese, we extend our fullest
5et most heartfelt sympathy.
- -Therelwas nothing, however, that throu
~ the long succession Of yesterdays seivt
ms Afforded more touching testimony of
affection and respect existing Tor the
led ceased prelate than the following reso
ed, tions adopted at a meeting OF the clergy
gy- this diocese:
~ ~, "Iihe standing committee OF the dioc
VA of d ,laware, oppressed by a sense OF
- great bereavement which the whole chu
ce' has sustained In the removal from
on earthly labors to the heavenly rest OF Il
rch beloved and honored diocesan, the RI,
ter, Alfred Lee d. D., LII. D., would place ~
W. record the sincere expression OF their
,yI and reverence for this eminent man of q
foit Distinguished for modesty which
oit eaualed only by his exalted worth,
'eN. realize that in his death we have lost I
'ey; stsnt friend. wise teacher and a III
, of pattern of Christian life. To the stmpti
me, Of a child he united the experience
ina. cage and all his learning he lent the CHI
Of Of a sympathizing phianthropist. A
N ciated with him IN the affairs OF the dio
we mourn the loss OF his counsel anu
inspiration OF his earnest and Bodly 9
III Bnee. In his administration q
Jr., were blended the gentlsness ol
red father and the courage OF y
y. He was a burning aud a shti
em- light, and wa feel the chill shadows ot
tooh orphaned LONELINESS creeping upon "
I
Dnai 'l,, bishop of Delaware. Bringing 10 thf
Tue ministratlon OF his UlI1ce jidteial mit
lme- wide sympathy, q strong character, anc
ihop grace OF profound personal plefy
ergy created most benign und blessed '
for ence. Clear in his conviction, brave II
roam utterances, he made duty tbs law o
life. Ever ready to banish error an
a.. !, defend the purity of the church,
tn. authority was clothed with the Inant
the charity and his pastoral office was arr
as 1t 10 the mingled graees of Kindness
ated humility. While holding the his
,wed place in the church he bore his he
Me so meekly that even the
diffident was encouraged TO app
him as friend, pastor, teacher and bis
, Ky, In all things ne was "a pattern OF
'ad, works, In doctrine showing uncotrupf
! not gravity, sincerity. sound speech, that {
not be- condemned.' Ghe lustre OF b
! an tainments will adorn the literature o
pp of church ana MS NE ana M9rks .Nir nss WI
ms u scholar, bishop, saint, He taught US
con, to live, and oh, too highl the pri,
neral knowledge taught us how to die.' II
d, Of fiuence cannot be limited TO his timo
ishop cese. He was recognized as ono Of the
God most men in the councils OF the ehurc
nory. identinaa as eontroiiing ,ras splaas w "
most distinctively Christian societi
anu this country and England. The d
tic and foreign missions of the Oh
otest- the institutions devoted to stud
W. 1 the sacred ministry; Biblical sehola
II large enterprises of philanthropic
in aeter both In and out OF church, and
now all the ministry of the glorious gos
-. the blessed God, have lost In his d
sPirN most illustrious ornament and able
ne cate. His life covers large part of q
rest tory Of the church In America. Amo
/ die great names which have adorned her
n. -. .--4Al u